The Region of Ven. Fr. Augusto Etchecopar celebrated the ELAB (Latin American Betharramite Meeting)
From July 15 to 16, the ELAB (Latin American Betharramite Meeting) was held in San Bernardino (Paraguay). Religious and laypeople from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay took part in the event. The meeting, in which the Superior General, Fr. Gustavo Agín SCJ, also took part, was held in a fraternal atmosphere to deepen the Betharramite charism and share life.
Sister Nancy Fretes O.D.N., from the Order of the Company of Mary Our Lady, also participated and animated the reflection starting from a key question: How can we think of the Region with a synodal perspective?
A cultural evening was also held, during which each Vicariate presented music and dances typical of its own culture. The meeting concluded with a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Caacupé, Patroness of Paraguay. Religious and laypeople began their pilgrimage from the diocesan seminary and then walked together to the Marian Shrine, where they celebrated the Eucharist.
From July 18 to 20, also in San Bernardino, the Young Religious Meeting took place, attended by religious with less than ten years of perpetual vows. The meeting was guided by Fr. Fernando Kuhn C.M.F., a member of the Claretian family, who led the reflection based on the question: How can we imagine a young religious life in today’s Betharram?
Participants explored topics such as the sense of belonging, identity, crises, intergenerational encounter, and hope. The gathering included both plenary sessions and small group work, where dreams, challenges, and experiences were shared. The religious departed with grateful hearts, eager to continue walking together synodally, with renewed, open, and hopeful hearts.
Document Actions
